BREAKING NEWS: NASIR EL-RUFAI DETAINED BY THE SSS!!

A tweet appearing on the twitter account of Mallam el-Rufai has the former FCT minister claiming that he has been detained by members of the State Security Service (SSS). The tweet was posted at round 12.33pm on Wednesday 8th August.
Acording to the tweet: “The SSS at the Lagos Airport tell me they have orders to detain me and prevent me from travelling… the waiting game starts…”
This latest detention is coming less than a day after the former minister, in an interview granted to a national daily, advised the president to resign if he cannot deal with the security problems of the country.

In Mali, Islamic militants beat journalist, close radio station

NEW YORK (APO) – Members of an Islamist militant group attacked a radio journalist in Mali on Sunday and ordered his station off the air, according to local journalists and news reports. The attack was in retaliation for the station’s coverage of local protests, according to local journalists and a leader of the Islamist group.
Four gunmen of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a Salafist militant group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, stormed the studios of Radio Adar Khoïma in the northeast town of Gao shortly after 9 p.m. and attacked Malick Aliou Maïga, a journalist hosting a live show, local journalists told CPJ. The men dragged Maïga, who is also a local correspondent of the U.S.-government-funded station Voice of the America (VOA), out of the studio and used rifle butts to beat him until he became unconscious, VOA told CPJ.
The assailants were led by Aliou Mahamar Touré, the man appointed police chief by the MUJOA. The group is one of a number of Islamist militant groups in the country linked to Al-Qaeda’s North African offshoot who have overtaken Mali’s vast Saharan north and imposed strict Sharia law, news reports said.
The armed men dropped Maïga off at a hospital after they beat him, according to Boubacar Djibrila, the station’s director. Maïga is slowly recovering from his injuries at the hospital, Djibrila told CPJ.
Djibrila told CPJ that during the attack Touré had ordered Radio Adar Khoïma off the air until further notice, and did not give a reason for the shutdown. The station, which operates exclusively in the evening hours due to electricity shortages, has not aired since Sunday, Djibrila said. The station has been in operation since 2004, he said.
In an interview with CPJ on Monday, Touré said, “Mr. Maïga does not know how to speak. That is the reason he was taken yesterday night-to give him some advice.” Touré also said the journalist had used the station to incite the public to protest against the group. Hundreds of protesters gathered on Sunday to prevent the MUJAO from cutting off the hand of a man accused of stealing, according to news reports.
“We condemn the brutal assault of journalist Malick Aliou Maïga and are concerned about the safety of all journalists working in Mali,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita from New York. “Radio Adar Khoïma must also be allowed to resume broadcasting, and should not be penalized for its reporting.”
The Malian government condemned the attack on Maïga in a press statement, which did not reference the closure of the station, according to news reports. In a press statement sent to CPJ, VOA condemned what it termed a “brutal attack” on Maïga, describing him as “one of the very few independent journalists still reporting from the region,” and “urged all sides in the region to refrain from targeting journalists.”
Maïga has been reporting for VOA since 2007, the station told CPJ. Sunday’s attack was the third time he has been attacked by hardline Islamists since April, according to VOA.
At least a dozen Malian journalists have been either arrested, kidnapped, detained, assaulted or threatened since a March 22 coup that ousted President Amadou Toumani Touré (no relation to the Islamist police chief), according to CPJ research.

Libya: 111 Nigerians Repatriated From Libya

Lagos — One hundred and one Nigerians were brought into the country from Libya through the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos on Monday night.
It was gathered that out of the figure, 47 were adult males, 52 adult females, four boys and eight girls. The South-West zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Iyiola Akande said, "One hundred and sixty two people were ready to return to Nigeria, and the figure rose to 172 at the point of departure in Libya. But when it was time to board the plane, 61 persons declined".
Akande urged the returnees to take into account the trauma and hardship that they went through in the foreign land, and avail themselves of the abundant opportunities abound in Nigeria.
He added that whatever one achieves in a foreign land, he is still considered a second class citizen, and consequently deprived of many opportunities. He, therefore, enjoined them to consider their return as a challenge and start afresh.

 Source: Daily Trust

Dana Air pilot acted unprofessionally - Captain Tito

WITH the release of the preliminary report on the cause of the Dana Air crash at Iju/Ishaga, Lagos, National President, Concerned Aviation Professionals (CAP), Captain Tito Omaghomi, on Tuesday, said that the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft acted unprofessionally.
Omaghomi, a former pilot with the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), made this assertion while speaking to newsmen on issues in the aviation sector. He said the profile of the pilot of the crashed plane should be traced to know how he got 120 hours of flight time between the time he was employed and when the plane crashed on May 3, 2012.
“He was employed by Dana Air on March 14,  2012. He began flying line operations for the company in late May 2012 and had since accrued over 120 hours of flight time,” Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had said.
Comparing it with the pilot hour of what obtained in NAL, Omaghomi said that for a pilot to become a captain in NAL, he must have flown 6,000 hours.
He argued that from the little released by the AIB, it was clear that both the captain and the first officer acted unprofessionally by not using the normal check list and not telling Nigerians when they lost the first engine.
He said, “the pilot did not use the check list. They acted unprofessionally. It was like a cowboy operation.”
While noting that the greatest emergency that could happen was the loss of cabin pressure, the former NAL pilot said the handling of the Dana Air plane crash was the most unprofessional  that he had ever known, adding however, that if the rescue operation was handled properly, there was every tendency that lives would have been saved.
AIB, he said, had nothing to hide as far as the Dana Air plane crash was concerned, stating that some of the facts at the site of the crash were tampered with by the crowd that rushed to the site after the accident, attributing the development to ignorance.
According to him, “emergency does not kill. It is the action or inaction that kills.”
On the report released by the Group Captain John Obakpolor-led nine-man committee, the former NAL  captain said that there was  credibility issue with some of the members.
According to him, when he heard about the committee and some of the members, he advised Group Captain Obakpolor and Captain Mfon Udom to resign because they did  not have the moral justification to be in the committee but they did not listen.
He explained that Obakpolor was a contract staff with the NCAA while Udom was a management staff of the Airline Development Company (ADC), an airline that could not pay compensation when its aircraft crashed in 2006.
Meanwhile, a witness in the ongoing coroner inquest into the cause of the Dana Air crash, Mr Kayode Ajiboye, on Tuesday, while giving testimony stated that it was another aircraft belonging to Dana Airline that once had hydraulic pressure problem.
Ajiboye, who is the General Manager of Air Worthiness, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), gave this information while testifying before Magistrate Alexander Oyetade Komolafe at the resumed hearing of the inquest at the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
While answering questions from lawyers at the inquest, he explained that the incident happened before the June 3, 2012 crash of Dana aircraft involving the plane with registration number 5N-RAM, explaining that it was the aircraft with registration number 5N-SRI that had hydraulic problem.
According to him, contrary to the views in some quarters, the aircraft that crashed was not the one that lost hydraulic pressure while air-borne, explaining that the aircraft with registration number 5N-SRI  was on return trip to Lagos from Uyo when it lost hydraulic pressure in the air on May 10, 2012.
It was his testimony that due to this problem, the plane had to be quickly cleared ahead of others, to make emergency landing on arrival in Lagos, adding that some of the passengers in the plane later called the Consumer Protection Department of  NCAA to complain about the state of the aircraft, including the failed air conditioner.
Ajiboye explained further that the plane was, however, taken for repairs at My-Technic Company Limited, Turkey, an aircraft maintenance and servicing company. He added that the Dana Air plane that crashed on June 3, 2012 was serviced and that a flight check was carried out on it on June 2, 2012.
It was also his testimony that the plane did not show any sign of problems during the flightcheck, adding that this was why it was scheduled for flights for the following day.
According to him, on the day of the crash, the plane still made three take-offs and two landings and that it was on the return trip to make the third landing that it crashed at Iju/Ishaga, Lagos.
Another witness, Mr Alistair Morrison, who is the Managing Director of SO Aviation Fuel Limited, a subsidiary of Sahara Group of Companies, informed the coroner that his company supplied 4,000 litres of aviation fuel to Dana Airline between 5.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. on June 2, 2012 in Abuja.
Morrison, who also confirmed that his company supplies aviation fuel to both local and international airlines, stated that, “on the average, we fuel about eight airlines per day, all receiving fuel from the same tankage. SO Aviation does about 50 fueling daily nationwide and all the airlines receive fuel from the same batch of fuel.”

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Alleged $620,000 bribe: Govt okays Lawan’s, others’ trial

All is set for the trial of House member Farouk Lawan for allegedly receiving $620,000 bribe, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has given the legal advice for the trial of the suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime and the Clerk of the panel, Mr. Boniface Emenalo.

The Office of the AGF has engaged a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, to handle the prosecution of the two suspects on behalf of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The charges against the suspects will be filed any moment from now by the prosecutor.

According to sources, the AGF has established a prima facie case against Lawan and Emenalo, based on police investigation.

Section 26 of the ICPC Act empowers the AGF to prosecute Lawan or any other suspect.

The section says: “Prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be initiated by the Attorney-General of the Federation or any person or authority to whom he shall delegate his authority in any superior court of record as designated by the Chief Judge of a State or the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja under section 61 (3) of this Act; and every prosecution for an offence under this Act or any other law prohibiting bribery, corruption, fraud or any other related offence shall be deemed to be initiated by the Attorney-General of the Federation.”

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the legal advice had been sent to the ICPC for immediate trial of the suspects.

The source said: “Police investigation has shown clearly that Lawan and Emenalo have a case to answer. They will be charged under some sections in the ICPC Act.

“As a matter of fact, the police confirmed the receipt of the bribe sum by Lawan and Emenalo, although they refused to produce the cash.

“The video and audio clips showed beyond doubt how the bribe sum was collected. The clips will be primary evidence which will be filed before a High Court.

“A respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, will handle the prosecution and he has been asked to go ahead to file charges against the suspects after due consultations with ICPC.”

Some of the detectives, who handled the investigation, and businessman Femi Otedola, who gave Lawan the bribe in what he called a sting operation, will testify for the prosecution during the trial.

“With this development, the police bend of the bribery has been temporarily closed, unless there is any fresh clue on the bribe sum,” the source said.

The suspects may be arraigned in line with sections 8, 10, 15, 20 and 20 of the ICPC Act 2000.

  Also, if the trial is not disrupted with injunctions, the ICPC Act says the suspects are to know their fate within 90 working days of their arraignment in court.

Section 26 says: “A prosecution for an offence shall be concluded and judgment delivered within ninety (90) working days of its commencement save that the jurisdiction of the court to continue to hear and determine the case shall not be affected where good grounds exists for a delay.”

 But a curious aspect of the forthcoming prosecution of the suspects is the fact that the court is at liberty to compel them to retrieve the bribe wherever it is kept.

The suspects risk a seven-year jail term, if they do not produce the cash.

Section 15 says: “Any person who, with intent to defraud or conceal a crime or frustrate the Commission in its investigation of any suspected crime of corruption under this Act or under any other law:

“Destroys, alters, mutilates, or falsifies any book, documents, valuable security, account, computer system, diskette, computer print out or other electronic device which belongs to or is in the possession of his employer, or has been received by him on account of his employment, or any entry in any such book, document, accounts, or electronic device, or is privy to any such act; or

“Make, or is privy to making any false entry in any such book, document, account or electronic record; or

“Omits, or is privy to omitting, any material particular from any such book, document, account or electronic record; is guilty of a felony, and shall on conviction be liable to seven (7) years imprisonment.”

Section 20 is explicit on the payment of fine, which is going to be five times of the bribe sum.

The section adds: “Without prejudice to any sentence of imprisonment imposed under this Act, a Public Officer or other person found guilty of soliciting, offering or receiving gratification, shall forfeit the gratification and pay a fine of not less than five times the sum of the value of the gratification which is the subject matter of the offence where such gratification is capable of being valued or is of a pecuniary nature, or ten thousand Naira, whichever is higher.”

Source: The Nation

Kogi Deputy Governor Fingered in the Hasty Release of 267 Children, Traffickers

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi

By Damilola Oyedele

At a time the crusade against child trafficking is supposed to be intensified, given the poor rating of Nigeria in the international circle, the controversy over who ordered the release of some rescued 267 children as well as those suspected to be trading with them, has cast a shadow over government’s sincerity in tackling the incident. Many stakeholders have questioned government’s sincerity since the traffickers were released when they were supposed to be arraigned.

But the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has absolved itself from blame in the release of the victims and their traffickers who were apprehended at various times by the Joint Task Force of the Kogi State Army Command on July 28.

According to the agency’ spokesman, Mr. Orakwue Arinze, the children, their traffickers and the 13 vehicles which they were travelling in were reportedly released on the orders of Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, on humanitarian grounds.

The agency said this is in response to statements credited to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations in Kogi, claiming that the agency failed to heed its invitation to take possession of the victims and suspects, and it had therefore approached Awoniyi for directive.

This allegation has given rise to speculations that the agency may have connived with influential Nigerians to release the victims and suspects so as to ensure that their sponsors do not face prosecution.

Arinze, who is Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations of the agency, briefed journalists in Abuja yesterday and presented what he called facts of the matter.

According to him, the agency received news of the interception on July 2 and immediately contacted the Kogi State DCP, Operations to take over the victims and the suspects into custody.  He added that the DCP expressed concern at the challenge of logistics being faced by the command to take care of such a huge number of people.

Arinze added that the agency activated its evacuation and reception mechanism in its shelters owned by some of its partners.

“The agency then requested the DCP Operations to formally forward an official communication to it to enable us to take over the matter since NAPTIP does not have an office in Kogi State. Another call was placed to the DCP Operations  to follow up on the matter at 1700 hrs same Saturday and he informed the agency that the Kogi State Government had intervened and provided minimal refreshment to the victims who according to him, were at that time kept at the Kogi State township stadium,” he said.

He added that the agency was told to stay action and wait until July 30 for the handover. However, on the day, the agency’s Director, Investigation and Monitoring, Mr. Ezekiel Kaura, was told to hold on as the deputy governor was meeting with senior officials of the police command over the matter, Arinze added.

“As at Wednesday, August 1, 2012 when we did not get any information, it became necessary for the agency to move to Lokoja to evacuate the 267 persons to Abuja. On Thursday, August 2, 2012 our officers visited the DCP Operations who now informed us that the 267 persons victims and suspects and 13 vehicles handed over to them by JTF had since been released on Sunday, July 29, 2012 on the orders of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State,” Arinze said.

Fielding questions from reporters, Arinze said the agency is already working to ensure that the suspects are re-apprehended and charged to court.

“We will not let the matter go, we will formally protest to the relevant authorities,“ he said.

Many, however, have wondered why it took NAPTIP as long as six days to get to the spot where the victims were supposedly kept, given the short distance between Abuja and Lokoja.

Even then, questions are being asked whether the deputy governor, as claimed by the police, has the powers to order the release of both the victims and their traffickers. Or was the state forced to order the release because of the cost implication of both hosting and feeding the arrested persons?

And was NAPTIP consulted before the release was made? Given the notoriety of the police in such matters, many believe that the haste in releasing both the suspects and the victims cannot be unconnected with “settlement efforts” by the parties involved in the illegal racket.

THISDAY gathered that the suspects were apprehended on different days by the JTF, which initially kept them in the barracks. It later raised the alarm and paraded them as it became evident that the number of victims was increasing and subsequently handed the victims and their traffickers over to the police.

At least 103 of the victims were children ranging from ages seven to 15. The victims are from Benue, Kogi and Cross River States and their parents had received N5,000 for each child. They were being taken to work in some states of the South-west such as Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo.

It is recalled that Nigeria was recently downgraded from Tier 1 status to Tier 2 by the US Department of State on the anti-human trafficking index due to its inability to ensure the persecution of traffickers on a rate proportionate to the level of the scourge in Nigeria.

Source: ThisDay

Lawan Stopped at Airport from Travelling Abroad

Hon. Farouk Lawan

By Ike Abonyi and Ejiofor Alike

The suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, was Tuesday night barred from travelling out of the country at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Lawan, who is currently under investigation for collecting $500,000 from the Chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, to doctor the report of the House ad hoc committee, was scheduled to board an Emirates Airline flight en route to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj when he was stopped by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) at the airport and prevented from leaving the country.

Lawan, THISDAY gathered, was very embarrassed when he was informed by the SSS that he would not be allowed to travel and was seen frantically making phone calls to what was believed to be “highly placed people in government” to help him out of his predicament.

Reliable sources in the SSS confirmed that the decision to bar Lawan from travelling stemmed from the fact that he is considered a flight risk and might seize the opportunity to flee the country in order to avoid arrest and arraignment.

As at press time, it wasn't certain if Lawan eventually got his way and was allowed to travel or not.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that the police had concluded their investigation into the cash-for-clearance scandal involving Lawan and the clerk to the ad hoc committee, Mr. Boniface Emanalo, and had forwarded their report to the Legal Department for advice.

It was learnt that the police investigative team, headed by Ali Amodu, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Task Force, was able to gather incriminating evidence which would be used to prosecute Lawan and Emenalo in court.

A source told THISDAY that in its response, the Police Legal Department recommended the trial of the duo.
Having finished their investigation, the police have sent the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke for his consideration, preparatory to Lawan’s arraignment.

Adoke, it was gathered, is studying the case file and would take a decision this week on whether the police, which investigated the allegation, have enough evidence to sustain a trial in court.

Source: ThisDay

Insecurity: FG Pledges Partnership with Israel

The Federal Government Tuesday expressed its determination to enlist the services of the State of Israel in tackling security challenges facing the nation.

Speaking at the opening of a five-day advanced security training programme on homeland security held in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said the involvement of Israel was apt in view of its experience in counter-terrorism initiatives and manufacture of equipment capable of neutralising terrorist operations.

Moro promised that government was doing everything possible to provide a conducive environment for private sector initiatives by tackling the rising insecurity in the country.

The minister who spoke on the topic: “The Challenges of Homeland Security in Nigeria in an Era of Terrorism,” said government would endorse such initiatives aimed at building the capacity of the civil society to effectively respond to security threats.

He said the programme demonstrated the readiness of Nigerians to take the right steps in moving the nation forward.

“My hope is that this training will not end with just this batch. Nigeria is a country of over 160 million people and 36 states plus the FCT with countless organisations the need to entrench homeland security in our respective microcosmic communities which can be made to fit into the larger government security programme cannot over-emphasised.

“I therefore call on the organisers, Messrs Team Spirit and Israeli partner to assure us of continuity and sustainability”, he said noting that federal agencies were prepared to partner and benefit from the programme.

The minister urged banks, universities and other agencies to take advantage of the programme to ensure national security.

Speaking earlier, the duo of Galilee International Management Institute, (GIMI) Nahal, Israel and Teamspirit Consult Nigeria Limited (TSCL), organisers of the programme, noted that the two-phased programme (Abuja and Israel) was not an end in itself but an opportune platform “for a long term continuing capacity building on ‘deterring, detecting, delaying and defeating terrorism.”

Source: ThisDay

Nigeria: 2015 - ANPP Mulls Support for Buhari

(THISDAY) - Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) leader, Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, may get the support of his former party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), if he elects to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Under the proposed alliance being planned by the opposition parties ahead of 2015, the ANPP is considering backing Buhari if he throws his hat into the ring for the fourth time.
Buhari had contested for the presidency in 2003 and 2007 on ANPP platform before he pulled out with his associates to form the CPC under whose banner he ran for the post in 2011.
ANPP National Secretary, Alhaji Musa Tumsah, who unfolded the party's plan to back Buhari in the next presidential election, told THISDAY Tuesday that the planned merger of opposition parties was for the good of Nigerians.
He said the party was championing the cause of a coalition of the opposition because of its belief that all opposition parties need to come together to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Tumsah, ANPP will be ready to back Buhari if he emerges the best candidate of the coalition because he is competent for the job.
"If you recall, Buhari was once a candidate of the ANPP; it is not about the party being subsumed, it is about ANPP providing a platform for any candidate.
"We are looking for candidates to come forward if they are good for the country. What we know for sure is that we will not take incompetent person to fly the flag of ANPP.
"ANPP is a good platform for people of substance, including Buhari to run for the presidency in order to achieve what Nigerians are seeking as an alternative to the directionless government of the PDP," he said.
He described the political parties involved in the merger talks as progressives with a common interest and vision to better the lot of Nigerians.
Tumsah, however, explained that there are some grey areas that the parties to the merger talks are currently trying to iron out before the deal is struck.
"We are also championing the cause for a legitimate alliance or merger because all the opposition parties have to come together, in order to unseat the PDP.
"The ANPP is engaged in talks with the CPC, ACN, APGA and other forward-looking parties in the country to ensure that the terms for merger are consummated because it is for the good of Nigerians.
"We feel it is in the interest of Nigerians to actually unseat the PDP from the governance of the country because it is obvious that they are incapable of running the affairs of the country," he said.
Speaking on manifesto of the party, Tumsah said the party is currently formulating ideas and a vision that will drive its future as a viable alternative to the PDP.
"ANPP has a manifesto that has always indicated clearly what our ideology is. Our ideology is a centric party that is progressive in nature. ANPP's new manifesto encompasses free education and agricultural development programmes that are beneficial to the populace.
"We never lacked direction and if you look carefully, you will see that the opposition parties involved in the merger talks share similar interests and values.
"Of course, there are certain grey areas that have to be worked out. But I can assure you that the ANPP can merge, can be in alliance with other parties or we can sufficiently provide an alternative platform to PDP in Nigerian politics as it is today," he added.
Tumsah said the ANPP leadership was making efforts to refocus the party along the path of a new vision.
The ANPP leadership under the National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has since May been trying to rally opposition political parties together and has followed up by appointing a 20-man committee to represent the party in talks with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and CPC.
Onu said the coming together of the opposition parties had become inevitable if there must be a change in the leadership of the country.
"This party will be reborn; it is going to be a credible alternative to the ruling party. If it means not doing it alone, we are going to team up with other progressive parties to achieve that. We will do everything possible to mobilise funds to rebuild the party and put it back on track," he said.

Olympics: Cameroon athletes 'abscond'

Missing athletes, clockwise from top left, Drusille Ngako, Paul Ekane... Photo: Telegraph

Seven Cameroonian athletes have disappeared while in Britain for the Olympics, officials told the BBC.
The head of the Cameroon delegation, David Ojong, said five boxers, a swimmer and a female football player had been missing since the weekend.
The reason for their disappearance is not known, amid some reports that they wanted to stay in the United Kingdom for economic reasons.
Mr. Ojong said the athletes had visas allowing them to stay until November.
"What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true," Mr. Ojong said, in a letter sent to the Cameroonian sports ministry.
"Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village."
A reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, Drusille Ngako, was the first to vanish, according to Mr. Ojong.
She disappeared while her teammates left for Coventry for their last preparatory encounter against New Zealand, he said.
Her disappearance was followed by that of swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue, reportedly along with his personal belongings.
The five boxers who had been eliminated from the games disappeared from London's Olympic village on Sunday, Mr. Ojong said.
They were named as Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo.

Source: The Nation

Gunmen kill 16 church worshippers in Okene

Unknown gunmen on Monday night invaded the Deeper Life Church at Otite area in Okene, killed 16 worshippers and wounded many others.
The Commander of the Joint Military Task Force in Lokoja, Lt-Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, confirmed the incident. He said 15 worshippers died instantly in the attack while another died on the way to the hospital.
The commander said that many injured persons were rushed to hospitals in Lokoja, a distance of 40 minutes driving on the road from Okene. He said the casualty figure might rise considering that some sustained heavy injuries.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.

There will be another civil war if Jonathan is impeached – Asari Dokubo

 

Former President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) Asari Dokubo on has said that those those who want  President Goodluck Jonathan impeached are looking for another civil war.

Mr Dokubo, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Monday,  said “we are saying that nothing must happen to Jonathan because if anything happens to him, the world will know.”
Speaking on the Boko Haram insurgency, Mr Dokubo said “the arrogance of Boko Haram is un-Islamic. The type of bomb they are using is small. If we begin to throw bombs, nobody will stay in Abuja. We don’t manufacture bomb but we will buy them and dynamites. I started armed struggle in the Niger Delta. It is because of Goodluck Jonathan that we kept quiet.
“But soon, we will not be able to guarantee our patience any more. If Ijaw people should retaliate, every household in the North will cry. It is the North that needs peace more than us. Everybody must impress it on them that they should sheathe their swords and drop their arrogance.”
The former militant leader further said it was an insult on President Jonathan for him to be asked by Boko Haram to convert to Islam or resign his position. He warned that the Ijaw nation will retaliate should anything happen to the president.

Source:  Channels tv

Mugabe wants deadlock on draft constitution

PATRICE MAKOVA


PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF are dithering on endorsing the proposed new draft constitution for the country as they are plotting to declare a deadlock in order to force elections using the old constitution, senior party officials have said.

Going for elections under the current constitution gives Mu-gabe, who has been in power for the past three decades, an unfair advantage over his political foes.
The two MDCs are adamant the proposed new supreme law for the country would not be renegotiated as the parties were already campaigning for a “Yes” vote in a referendum.


The Zanu PF Politburo on Wed-nesday met for the third time in two weeks, but again failed to come up with a position on the proposed draft.
Sources said Mangwana was last week instructed to among many other things, come up with acceptable transitional mechanisms in the draft and finalise the criteria on the appointment of provincial governors before the politburo’s fourth meeting scheduled for  this Wednesday.

“Many Politburo members expressed discomfort with the issue of running mates and the watered-down presidential powers,” said a Politburo member. “Others are uneasy with the proposal to take away prosecuting powers from the Attorney General by creating an independent national prosecuting authority as they feel that this is meant to neutralise (AG Johannes) Tomana because he is known to be sympathetic to us.”

He said if the two MDCs refuse to go back to the negotiating table, Zanu PF was prepared to declare a deadlock.

“If a deadlock is declared, the GPA stipulates that elections have to be held under the current constitution and this is what some members are pushing for,” said the politburo member.

Another senior Zanu PF official said the two MDCs were playing into the hands of Zanu PF and in the event of a deadlock; there was hardly anything Sadc could do.
“The draft is a negotiated document. There is no clause in the GPA which stops political parties from renegotiating even previously agreed position,” he said. “There is a strong argument by some that the party which wins the next elections is the one which must take the draft to the people. All things being equal, elections must be held in March next year.”

The official said the politburo decision to reassign and incorporate members of the disbanded District Coordinating Committee (DCCs) was a strategy meant to quell disgruntlement within the party ahead of elections.

“In a way these former DCC members are being made to believe that they are back in the fold, but in reality they are still out in the cold,” he said. “There were fears that some of them were going to defect hence all sorts of promises are being made to them. The party is looking at the bigger picture which is elections and a constitution which is in its favour.”

Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo said the two MDCs had no option but to renegotiate with the party on several undisclosed issues.

“If they want us to agree to a new constitution, then they have to come back to the negotiating table,” he said. “As for a deadlock, we will cross the bridge when we get there.”
However, MDC-T secretary general, Tendai Biti said there was no way negotiations would be re-opened, arguing that the draft was a compromise document agreed by Copac and negotiators from all the three parties in the coalition government.

The party’s national council met on Friday to endorse the draft and also resolved to campaign for a “Yes” vote in the referendum.

“That document should now be put before the people who should decide its legitimacy and correctness,” Biti said. “Any individual or political party who thinks we should re-open debate around provisions in the draft should respect their negotiators who appended their signatures to the document, he said.

Source: The Standard

The Bolt and Blake show dazzle Olympic Stadium again... this time in 200m heats

Usain Bolt began his bid to add a second Olympic 200 metres crown to his two 100m titles with a hugely comfortable heat victory.
The Jamaican, who clocked an Olympic record 9.63 seconds to retain his 100m crown on Sunday, cruised to victory in 20.39secs.
Bolt has said he needs to win 200m gold again before he achieves his aim of becoming a 'legend'.

Home straight: Bolt looked impressive as he qualified for the 200m semi-finals

'It was an easy run, I'm enjoying it, it's my favourite event," said Bolt. 'It's getting pretty chilly. They say the weather should be good on Thursday [for the final] so we'll see.'
Asked what he did to celebrate his 100m success, he said: 'Nothing. I just chilled, met some friends and sat and talked.'
Bolt's countryman and training partner Yohan Blake also breezed through, slowing down well before the line to clock 20.38s.

Lightning Bolt: Usain cruised to victory and then soaked up the atmosphere in the stadium

Blake had to settle for silver in the 100m, but is out to deny Bolt a second gold, having beaten him over 200m at the Jamaican trials
France's Christophe Lemaitre went quicker than both Jamaicans in winning his heat in 20.34 and Bolt nodded in approval as he watched his rival's run on a TV screen.

Cruise control: Blake also eased into the semi-final of the 200 metres

Source: MailOnline

Beggars demand their social rights from Lagos government

Beggars in Lagos are demanding that the state government do not deprive them of their social rights and deny them of their freedom to movement.
This  comes after the Lagos state government have restricted movement of beggars within  the metropolis, and anyone caught  is taken to Majidun Rehabilitation Centre.

Jubril Hassan, the president of the physically challenged expressed his displeasure over government denying them the opportunity to beg for alms, and the camp that beggars are taken to after being caught.

“The condition of the camp is appalling and devastating; it causes more harm to our health. It has come to our notice that very soon anybody found giving us alms will be apprehended and imprisoned for two years.”

The beggars who were met by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Panox, was told  that over 600 beggars have been maltreated and arrested, and urged the government to come to their rescue.

Subsidy: EFCC Suspends Arraignment of Marketers

Hon. Farouk Lawan

 

By Davidson Iriekpen

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has suspended the further arraignment of oil-marketing and trading company (OM&T) and their directors, THISDAY has learnt.

Sources in the presidency said the suspension of the arraignment is to enable the law enforcement agency conduct detailed investigations into the activities of the marketers, preparatory to preferring charges against them that can withstand legal scrutiny.

The source said with the arraignment of 19 suspects for the N13 billion fraud perpetrated in the management of the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), the EFCC wants to take its time before arraigning another batch of oil marketers indicted by the various panels set up to investigate the management of the fuel subsidy scheme.

It was also learnt Monday that the police have sent the case file of the suspended Chairman, House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Fuel Subsidy regime, Hon. Farouk Lawan, to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, for his consideration, preparatory to Lawan’s arraignment.

The presidency source said the EFCC has been directed to ensure that the outstanding oil marketers are properly investigated before seeking fiat from Adoke for their prosecution.

The source said the government was trying to avoid a situation where the prosecution team would have to withdraw charges before the court for amendment.

“We don’t want to do a shoddy job. We do not want to file charges in a hurry and begin to withdraw them. Definitely more prosecutions will come. More people will be arraigned.

“What we are doing now is for the EFCC to thoroughly conduct investigations. As soon as that is done, the AGF will give his fiat for prosecution. What the government is determined to do is ensure that they are prosecuted and the stolen money recovered,” the source said.

The EFCC had last month arraigned seven companies and 12 individuals, including Nasaman Oil Services, Eternal Oil and Gas Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas Plc, Nadabo Energy Limited, Pacific Silver Line Limited and Axenergy Limited.

Others whose trial has taken off are Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka, Abdullahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbambo.

Two more directors and an OM&T were arraigned last week before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, for the fuel subsidy fraud.

The oil marketers and the company arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo were Ogunbambo, Habila Theck and Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited.

However, the EFCC on July 31 discontinued the criminal charges filed against two directors and two oil-marketing and trading firms at the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos.

The suspects, whose charges were withdrawn, are: Durosola Omogbenigun, Peter Mba, Integrated Resources Limited and Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited.

EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in an application dated July 26, sought the leave of the court to withdraw and discontinue the charges because after it reviewed the case and the evidence available to it, it found out that the defendants did not commit the offences for which they were charged.

Oyedepo told the court that he had instructions of the AGF to withdraw the charges against the defendants.

Following the discontinuance of the charges, the trial judge, Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson, consequently struck out the suit.

When the charges were filed against the suspects on July 20, the EFCC failed to appear at the court until July 31 when it sought to discontinue the case.

On July 26, when the suspects were supposed to be arraigned, both the prosecution and the suspects were absent in court.

THISDAY gathered that it was to avoid a recurrence of the embarrassing situation in which the EFCC discontinues a trial due to either inconclusive investigations or badly prepared charges that could give the defence team the loophole to stall or win the case that prompted the Federal Government to suspend further arraignment of indicted oil marketers.

On the planned arraignment of Lawan for allegedly collecting $500,000 from the Chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, to doctor the report of the House ad hoc committee, it was learnt that Adoke was studying the case file and would take a decision this week on whether the police, which investigated the allegation, have enough evidence to sustain a trial in court.

Lawan is billed for arraignment along with the secretary of the ad hoc committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, who reportedly collected $120,000 from Otedola in the cash-for-clearance scandal that rocked the House.

“I can tell you authoritatively that the file is right there on the table of the minister. He is still studying it and by tomorrow (today) or next, we would decide on the next thing to do,” the source said.

Detectives who investigated the matter had finished their report last week and submitted it to the police Legal Department for advice.

It was learnt that the police investigative team, headed by Ali Amodu, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Task Force, was able to gather incriminating evidence which would be used to prosecute Lawan and Emenalo in court.

A source told THISDAY that in its response, the Police Legal Department recommended the trial of the duo.

Source: Thisday Live

Witches, Wizards stopped Blessing from shining

By Tony Ubani in London
Nigerians in Diaspora are yet to come to terms with the shocking display of speedster, Blessing Okagbare that some have blamed spiritual forces for her disappointing race. Blessing placed 8^th in a pack of high-profile athletes, some she had beaten before.
Mother of one of Team Nigeria’s athlete, Mrs Glory Udoh who came to the Olympic Village yesterday said that it was so glaring that spiritual forces were against the Nigerian. ‘’We wept openly yesterday. You could see her struggling to get off the block. But they have failed, because God has taken supremacy and control of Team Nigeria’s activities. Her name is a blessing, and God has blessed her that no evil forces will stand on the way of the team, again.
Mrs Udoh who flew all the way from Houston to London to be with her daughter said that Team Nigeria will surprise many in their remaining events. ‘’God has opened the floodgates for His children to arise and shine. Team Nigeria shall move and nothing will stand on their way again’’, she preached.

FG to commence clean up of Ogoni land

The Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia has revealed that all is now set by the federal government to commence a drastic and adequate clean-up exercise of the oil spills in polluted Ogoni land.

Hajia Mailafia was addressing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan where she presented the performance of her Ministry in the implementation of the 2012 Budget.
The Minister gave kudos to the Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi for providing the enabling environment for the initial tasks such as provision of portable water, marking out the wells that were too polluted and other framework activities.
She however blamed the delay in the take-off of the remediation effort on the strike that crippled the nation following the fuel subsidy protest, earlier in the year.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), released a report a year ago detailing the massive extent of pollution in the Niger-Delta region, needing a $1billion for the remediation process.
According to the UNEP Report, “the environmental restoration of Ogoniland in Nigeria could prove to be the world’s most wide-ranging and long term oil clean-up exercise ever undertaken if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and important ecosystems such as mangroves are to be brought back to full, productive health.”
Civil organisation and residents of Ogoni land on Sunday held a press briefing in Abuja to mark the one year since the UNEP result was released and decry the non-existence of government’s commitment to reclaim the land.

Source: Channels tv

Edo PDP withdraws election petition against Oshiomhole, takes case to God

By Francis Onoiribholo, Ag. Bureau Chief, Benin
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday made a surprise U-turn over its petition challenging the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN ) in the July 14 2012 governorship election as the party withdrawn its petition at the State Election Petition Tribunal barely three days after it was filed.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih In a statement in Benin titled, “Edo State Governorship Election- 2012: Let God the Judge” stated that though the party worked hard to ensure the victory of its candidate, Maj.  Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd), the results that were declared  by INEC were in favour of the A C N candidate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
According to Orbih, while the PDP worked and abided by the principle of One Man, One Vote, its main opponent engaged the instrumentality of intimidation, adding that they obstructed the continuous voters’ re- registration exercise thereby preventing eligible voters of being registered and vote during the election.
“Besides, our main opponent manipulated existing voter’s registers as well as the results of the election to their fullest advantage, making the results of the election not only ridiculous but also completely at variance with rational reasoning and human expectations”, Orbih alleged.
Recalling Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s protest against INEC’s handling of the conduct of the election, Orbih said the results of the same election was now being hailed by all because it is PDP that has lost, adding “it has now become a tradition that when the PDP loses an election, the election is free and fair”.
“With the above assessment of the results, PDP is aware of the divergent views and expressions by the public. PDP is also aware of the legal options. However, PDP has fully consulted the leadership of the party at both within and outside the state. During this consultations, legal opinions were sort and it is the conclusion of the party that while we appreciate the effects of the results declared by INEC will have on our teeming members, we are also mindful of the consequences which the state may run into with protracted litigation”.
“Consequently, though painful, for now PDP has decided not to file any petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the interest of the state”, the statement said.
On the murder of the Principle Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde few months ago, Orbih also recalled that the governor led demonstrations, accusing the PDP and its leaderships of being responsible for the incident as well as having a hand in the accident involving the governor’s convoy.
He said on account of this, the state government renamed Delta Crescent where Chief Anenih lives as Olaitan Oyerinde Street.
Orbih in apparent reaction to recent arrest in Abuja of suspected killers of Olaitan Oyerinde by the SSS said the truth in both cases has come out, adding “what has the governor got to say now”.
He prayed to grant the leadership of the PDP the wisdom and courage to continuously stand for the good of the party and Edo people, assuring that their commitment and sacrifices and the pains they have endured will not be in vain, just as he called on the leadership to reposition the party with committed people, make peace and allow God to be the judge.
But in what appear to be a division within the party, the PDP candidate in the July 14 election, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere has promised to address a press conference over the issue of withdrawal of the party of its petition from the tribunal.
According to the retired Army General who was contacted on phone to react to Orbih’s statement “ask the chairman of the party. I may not be able to make any comment on phone because I don’t know who I am talking to. When I come out, I will address a press conference”

Source: Daily Independent

Boko Haram claims responsibility for weekend attacks, says, “We succeeded in sending many of them to their graves,”

The Boko Haram sect has claimed responsibility, for the series of attacks on some cities in Northern Nigeria over the weekend. The dreaded Islamic group, carried out attacks in Damaturu, killings in Maiduguri, as well as the attack on Gombe, causing the death of innocent Nigerians.
A statement by Abul Qaqa, spokesman of the Boko Haram, read: “All gratitude goes to the Almighty Allah. On Saturday around 6pm, the warriors of Almighty Allah were on a mission but were attacked by a detachment of JTF operatives at Kaleri area of Maiduguri. As our lord pleases, our warriors succeeded in sending many of them to their graves.
“Similarly, we succeeded in killing six soldiers during an encounter with them in Gombe town.
“Again, we triumphed in Damaturu today (Sunday), around 12 noon when JTF operatives attempted to stop one of our warriors in his bomb laden vehicle at a checkpoint. After realizing their intention, he did not waste time in crashing into them,” the statement said.

Source: DailyPost